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Wadebridge

Wadebridge (Cornish: Ponsrys) is a town in North Cornwall, England, UK, located on the Camel Estuary some 5 miles (8 km) upstream from Padstow. For many years Wadebridge was a traffic-congested town (through which the route of the A39 trunk road passed) but in 1991 the Wadebridge bypass was opened together with the Egloshayle bypass causing the two settlements to regain much of their former charm. The main shopping street in Wadebridge (Molesworth Street) has subsequently become pedestrianized through an inner link road, allowing traffic free shopping. The permanent population is 6222 (Census 2001). The main offices of the former North Cornwall District Council were at Trenant Road, Wadebridge.

History

The initial settlement of Wade (the name of Wadebridge before the bridge was built) ^[1] came about due to a ford in the River Camel (Camel probably meaning "crooked one"^[2]). The early crossing had two chapels either side of the river "Kings" chapel on the north side and "St Michael's" on the south side. People would pray for a safe crossing at one of the chapels before wading across at low tide, once they had made it the other side they would give thanks to God in the other chapel. In 1312 a license was granted for Wade to commence with a market. The Reverend Thomas Lovibond (the vicar of Egloshayle) started to become distressed at the number of humans and animals that had died during the crossing of the river Camel so he planned the building of a bridge which was completed in 1468. Wade was now known as Wadebridge.

The bridge was to become a strategic position in the English Civil War as in 1646 Oliver Cromwell himself came with 500 Dragoons and 1000 horsemen to take the bridge.^[3]

A serious outbreak of typhoid in 1897 caused by contamination of drinking water led to Wadebridge having its own town council as decisive action had to be taken for proper water supplies and disposal of sewage effluent.

History of the bridge

The bridge is said to be built on wool. One of the public houses in Wadebridge is actually called "the Bridge on Wool". However no one is actually sure if this means that the bridge is actually physically built on sacks of wool as a foundation. What is much more likely is that the bridge was built on the profits of the wool trade. However when the bridge was extended in 1963 some wool was found in one of the core samples taken, although some people say that the core sample was just a hoax. When the bridge was first completed tolls used to be paid for the maintenance of the bridge.

In 1853 the bridge was widened from 3 to 5 metres (9.8 to 16 ft). Then in 1963 a second widening took place which took the bridge from 5 to 12 metres (16 to 39 ft). More recently in 1994 the bridge underwent a refurbishment to change the stone in the pavement and to create a cycle track along the length of the bridge.

Challenge Bridge

A footbridge called Challenge Bridge links the Egloshayle playing fields to the Jubilee fields on the other side of the river. The bridge was constructed by Anneka Rice and her team for the TV series "Challenge Anneka". Locally, the bridge is known as Annekas Bridge.

Eddystone Road

In 1882 cracks started to appear in the rock on which the Eddystone Lighthouse was positioned. Therefore a new lighthouse had to be built. Granite was quarried from De Lank quarry and brought down to Wadebridge. The stone masons in Wadebridge dovetailed each segment of stone not only to each other but also to the course above and below. As each layer had been completed and checked to fit with the layer above it was sent out to the Eddystone rocks from Wadebridge by sea. The Lighthouse was completed in 1882. This resulted in the road where the masons worked being called Eddystone Road.

History of the railway

The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway from Wadebridge to Wenfordbridge with a branch line to Bodmin was built at a cost of Β£35,000 following a study commissioned in 1831 by a local landowner and revolutionary parliamentarian Sir William Molesworth of Pencarrow. The line was intended to carry sand from the Camel estuary to inland farms for use as fertiliser. The line was opened on 30 September 1834 with the locomotive β€œCamelβ€? pulling a train load of 400 passengers (one of the first railways in Britain to carry passengers). When the company ordered its second locomotive it came with a name plate already affixed. It had been named the Elephant as the makers had failed to realise that the first engine had been named after the river and not an animal! The last passenger train left Wadebridge railway station in 1967 following railway cut backs. The railway has been transformed into the Camel trail, and the Bodmin and Wenford Railway heritage railway runs on part of the route.

The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show

The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show began in 1793 at Bodmin and then every year in East and West Cornwall alternately. In 1960 the show came to its present site, the Royal Cornwall Showground which is run by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and situated a mile-and-a-half (2.3 kilometres) west of Wadebridge. The showground itself is used for many different functions from Scout Jamborees to point to point horse racing.

Historical timeline

1312 β€” Licence granted for Wade to hold a market.

1460 β€” Reverend Thomas Lovibond commenced building the bridge.

1646 β€” Oliver Cromwell and his men descended onto Wadebridge to take control of the bridge.

1793 β€” A shipping canal from Wadebridge to Fowey was surveyed.

1834 β€” The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway took its first passengers.

1845 β€” The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway became part of the London and South Western Railway

1852 β€” The Bridge was widened from 3 m to 5 m.

1882 β€” Work began on replacing the Eddystone lighthouse.

1888 β€” The Town Hall (then known as the Molesworth Hall) was completed.

1888 β€” The Bodmin and Wadebridge railway was connected to the Great Western Railway.

1894 β€” Wadebridge Town Football Club was founded.

1895 β€” The London and South Western Railway, reached Wadebridge from Halwill Junction and Launceston.

1897 β€” A serious outbreak of typhoid in the town led to better water supplies.

1899 β€” The Bodmin and Wadebridge railway was extended to Padstow.

1930 β€” The Cinedrome (now the Regal) opened to its first customers.

1960 β€” Wadebridge was chosen as the permanent site of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show.

1963 β€” The Bridge was widened from 5m to 12m.

1967 β€” The railway line was closed to passengers.

1991 β€” The Challenge Bridge was completed.

1993 β€” The Wadebridge Bypass was completed.

Politics and administration

Wadebridge is in the constituency of North Cornwall which is currently held by the Liberal Democrat Dan Rogerson.

Media

The Cornish Guardian is a weekly newspaper: it is published in 7 separate editions, including the Wadebridge edition.

Sports

The Camel estuary offers a wide range of water sports, including sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing. Golf courses close by include Trevose and Saint Enodoc and St Kew.

Wadebridge has a leisure centre which has a varied programme of sports and leisure pursuits including Cornish wrestling.

Sports clubs

Wadebridge Town Football Club playing their home games at Bodieve park.

Wadebridge Bowls Club playing at the bowling green in Egloshayle playing fields.

Wadebridge Camels playing their home games at the Molesworth Field in Egloshayle.

Wadebridge Cricket Club playing their home games at Egloshayle playing fields.

Wadebridge Tennis Club a members club with league and social tennis, and is available for public use subject to availability and paying the appropriate fee into the honesty box at the clubhouse.

Wadebridge Swimming Club which is based at Wadebridge leisure centre.

An archery club called Bowmen of Wadebridge

Annual events

Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show β€” June

Cornwall Folk Festival β€” August Bank Holiday

Eglos Craft Fayre at Egloshayle Churchβ€” Friday 22nd to Monday 25 August 2008

Wadebridge Carnival β€” July 19, 2008

Prime Stock Show β€” November

Garden Produce Association and Chrysanthemum Show β€” November

Education

Wadebridge has two primary schools, St Breock primary and Wadebridge county primary. Wadebridge has just one secondary school Wadebridge School which has a sixth form.

Health care

There has been a group practice in Wadebridge since the early 20th century. Many of the early doctors had their surgeries operating from their homes. Today there are two health care practices in Wadebridge: the Wadebridge and Camel Estuary Practice and the Bridge Medical Centre.

Politics and administration

Wadebridge is in the constituency of North Cornwall which is currently held by the Liberal Democrat Dan Rogerson.

Notable former and present residents

Olly Barkley – current England rugby union international player

Michaela Breeze – Commonwealth weightlifting champion

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney – surgeon based in Wadebridge from 1814 who invented the Bude-Light. A street in Wadebridge has subsequently been named after him (Goldsworthy Way)

Francis Hurdon – prominent figure in Canadian politics.

Andrew Ridgeley – member of the pop music duo, Wham!

Sgt Steven Roberts – the first solder to die in the invasion of Iraq

Jethro - (Geoffrey Rowe) a comedian who formerly lived in Wadebridge for many years

Annie Vernon – 2007 World Rowing Champion Women's Quad Sculls

Michael White - journalist, Associate Editor and former Political Editor of The Guardian^[4]

Keren Woodward – pop singer and songwriter from the girl band Bananarama.

Town twinning

Langaeg, Brittany, France^[5]

Brecon, Powys, Wales